Alaska Pride is a political blog dealing with issues of particular interest to Alaskans and those interested in Alaska. As Alaska's most politically incorrect blog, Alaska Pride addresses multiple issues ranging from politics, the environment, religion, and even race. I also seek to educate Outsiders about the real Alaska - why we cost more, and why it's a worthwhile investment for America.

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Sunday, November 11, 2012

Alaska's Two Congressional Republicans Sound Off On The Future Of The Republican Party; Don Young More Nationalistic Than Lisa Murkowski

The two Republican members of Alaska's Congressional delegation, Sen. Lisa Murkowski and Rep. Don Young, have now joined the growing national debate about the future direction of the Republican Party; their thoughts have been published in the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner.

Sen. Murkowski has come down on the side of those who want the Republicans to reach out more explicitly to non-Whites. She cites the makeup of Republicans in the Senate as being problematic, noting that it is primarily male, White, older, and from the South. She points out that this demographic is not the only demographic, and is concerned that relying excessively upon that particular demographic will not allow the Republicans to continue as a strong party. Although Murkowski still believes that Republican ideas are strong and solid, she maintains the party is failing to communicate these ideas in a way relevant to the changing demographics. The economy is the major driver.

This AP graphic, which was published in this Daily Mail article, best illustrates the problem identified by Murkowski. Although the AP graphic cannot be re-published here without permission, here's a summation of the output:

Race:-- 93 percent of Blacks voted Democrat; 6 percent voted Republican -- 73 percent of Asians voted Democrat; 26 percent voted Republican-- 71 percent of Hispanics voted Democrat; 27 percent voted Republican-- 39 percent of Whites voted Democrat; 59 percent voted RepublicanAge: The 18-29 group was most Democratic at 60 percent, while the 65+ group was least Democratic at 44 percent.Marital Status: Single women were the most Democratic at 67 percent, while married men were least Democratic at 38 percent.Gender: Women were more Democratic at 55 percent, while men were less Democratic at 45 percent.The New York Times contains the same breakdown, but presents it in a different format, and also includes breakouts for some states (Alaska is not included).

Murkowski is not wrong about her demographic analysis, but her emphasis on outreach towards non-White racial demographics may not encourage Americanism, where people are expected to place common American nationality ahead of individual race or ethnicity. America was intended to be a creedal nation where common values of liberty and justice for all take precedence over individual heritage. Allowing non-Whites to indulge in racial politics has encouraged the renewed growth of a White racialist movement consisting of Whites who believe that they, too, are entitled to racial representation. This movement is represented at its most politically mature level by the Council of Conservative Citizens, the American Third Position Party, the Stormfront discussion forum, and the American Nazi Party. You'll be surprised at the modern-day American Nazi Party; not only do they reach out specifically to non-Whites, but rigorously condemn the rival National Socialist Movement for behaving in what they consider a stereotypical fashion.

Rep. Don Young, who was married to an Alaska Native lady, acknowledges that the Republican Party shouldn’t dismiss the changing demographics of the voting public. But he believes the cyclical nature of politics is primarily to blame for Republican setbacks in the election, and so there is no reason for the party to abandon its core principles. Rep. Young believes that minority groups that voted largely for President Obama will, as they age, become conservative and drift toward the Republican Party, citing the example of previous immigrants who initially voted Democratic when they first arrived from Europe, but who became Republican once they got established and in business.

The 4th Congressional District race in Utah proves Don Young's contention about minority groups to a certain degree. There, the Republican Party proved that it can attract a certain type of Black person. In Utah's 4th District, Mia Love, a conservative Black Mormon, finished just one percentage point behind Democratic incumbent Jim Matheson. Matheson isn't your ordinary Democrat; he's a blue-dog Democrat who espouses conservative social values. Had Love faced someone like Nancy Pelosi, she would have wiped the mat with Pelosi. And considering that the 4th District is one percent Black, this means White people voted for Love. Why? Because unlike many Blacks, Love marketed herself as American first and Black second. In contrast, the members of the Congressional Black Caucus market themselves as Black first and American second, if at all. The negative example by the Caucus encourages too many Blacks to Blame Whitey First and settle for entitlement rather than strike out for empowerment.

So while Sen. Murkowski is right about making the Republican message more relevant to non-Whites, Rep. Young is also right that we cannot afford to throw Whites under the bus just to get Republicans elected to office. What the Republican Party needs to do is to be right about the most relevant issues; namely, the economy, immigration, and the budget. These are the issues mattering the most to the greatest number of people. Above all, the Republican Party simply must do a better job of reaching out to the working class; they must disavow Prosperity Theology and economic objectivism, recognize the distinction between the working poor and the willfully-idle poor, and make a bigger place in the economy for the working poor, who are often unskilled, so they can begin to accrue savings and join the middle class.

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About Me

It's time for Americans to take America back! America has been in the hands of special interests too long. Sometimes it's necessary to set aside the labels; while I prefer the conservative solution, sometimes you gotta go to the left. Sometimes capitalism requires an occasional daub of socialism to smooth its sharper edges.